A section of the Gambhira-Mujpur bridge in Gujarat’s Vadodara district collapsed on July 10, 2025, killing 11 people and injuring several, raising concerns over structural safety and administrative negligence.

Man-Made Disasters:

• Man-Made Disaster refers to catastrophic events caused directly or indirectly due to human action, negligence, intent, or failure of systems.
• Distinguished from natural disasters, which result from natural hazards (e.g., floods, earthquakes).

Examples include:

• Industrial/chemical accidents (e.g., Bhopal Gas Tragedy)
• Fires and explosions (e.g., Mundka fire, 2022)
• Structural failures (e.g., Gambhira-Mujpur bridge Collapse, 2025)
• Transport accidents (rail, aviation, maritime)
• Biological/chemical threats and warfare
• Cyber-attacks and data breaches
• Terrorism and armed conflicts

Factors Contributing to Poor State of Public Infrastructure in India

• Administrative Inefficiency and Corruption:
  • Poor governance leads to the use of sub-standard materials, lack of compliance with engineering design codes, and minimal on-site supervision.
  • Absence of accountability mechanisms fuels systemic corruption, affecting quality.
• L1 Contract Bidding Method (Lowest Bidder):
  • The “L1 approach” awards infrastructure contracts to the lowest financial bidder, often disregarding technical competence, past performance, or quality standards.
  • This incentivizes cost-cutting on materials and labour.
  • Example: Collapse of the Morbi suspension bridge (2022), awarded to a private firm lacking adequate expertise, despite safety concerns.
• Inadequate Infrastructure Funding:
  • As per CRISIL estimates, India needs 7–8% of GDP annually in infrastructure investment, but actual investment remains at only 4.6%.
  • This results in delayed projects, maintenance backlogs, and dependence on Public-Private Partnerships.
• Poor and Infrequent Safety Audits:
  • Many structures collapse despite passing technical and safety audits, indicating either incompetence or compromise in auditing procedures.
  • Safety audits are often not mandatory or carried out by the executing agency itself, posing a conflict of interest.
• Other Structural Factors:
  • Demand-supply mismatch: Rapid urbanization and industrialization have outpaced infrastructure creation.
  • Environmental/geographical causes: Climate extremes such as floods, erosion, and high seismic activity threaten structural integrity.

Measures Required to Address Infrastructure Challenges

• Benchmarking Infrastructure Capacity and Quality:
  • Regular audits of infrastructure performance both in physical and qualitative terms must be made mandatory.
  • Create dashboards and indices at national/state level to track underperforming assets.
• Mandatory Adoption of Quality cum Cost Based Selection (QCBS):
  • QCBS balances technical expertise and cost while awarding contracts, leading to better long-term outcomes.
  • Reduces the risk of substandard execution under L1 model.
• Independent, Periodic Safety Audits:
  • Must be conducted by third-party expert agencies, separate from implementing or operating entities.
  • Should include structural health monitoring using sensor-based technologies, especially for old bridges, dams, etc.

Key Government Initiatives to Boost Infrastructure Development

• National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF):
  • A sovereign wealth fund created to attract foreign and domestic institutional investment into commercially viable infrastructure projects.
  • Operates via master funds, sector-specific funds, and strategic partnerships.
• National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP):
  • Targets INR 111 lakh crore investments across sectors like energy, roads, railways, and urban infrastructure from 2020 to 2025.
  • Involves both Centre, States, and private sector, with emphasis on prioritized project identification and real-time tracking via Project Monitoring Group (PMG).
• India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL):
  • A wholly government-owned NBFC under Ministry of Finance.
  • Provides long-term debt financing to PPP and other infrastructure projects to improve financial viability.
• Viability Gap Funding (VGF):
  • Used to make unviable but socially necessary projects feasible, especially in rural or remote regions.
  • Example: UDAN scheme under civil aviation for regional air connectivity.
• New Public-Private Partnership Models (e.g., Hybrid Annuity Model - HAM):
  • Combines EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) and BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) models.
  • Government bears 40% upfront cost, reducing private player’s risk and encouraging participation.

On July 2025, ten cloudbursts, three flash floods, and a landslip struck various parts of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, resulting in 13 confirmed deaths and 29 people still missing, as of July 3. Rescue operations continue across the Gohar, Thunag, and Karsog subdivisions.

Cloud Burst:

• A cloudburst is defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as an extreme weather event characterized by more than 10 cm of rainfall within one hour over an area of approximately 10 square kilometers.
• These events are localized, highly intense, and usually occur with minimal or no prior warning.
• Cloudbursts are commonly associated with thunderstorms, lightning, and hail, and are most frequently observed in mountainous regions, particularly the Himalayan belt.

Causative Factors

• Orographic Lifting: Moist monsoonal winds are forced upwards along mountain slopes, leading to rapid cooling and condensation, resulting in torrential precipitation.
• Strong Convective Currents: Upward air currents suspend raindrops in the atmosphere, allowing them to accumulate. A sudden weakening of these currents results in the abrupt release of accumulated water.
• Monsoon Dynamics: As monsoon clouds from the Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea move northward and encounter the Himalayas, they release significant amounts of rainfall in a short span of time.
• Complex Topography: The irregular terrain of the Himalayan region further amplifies localized convective activity.

Distinction Between Cloudbursts and Normal Rainfall

• Unlike normal rainfall, a cloudburst is:
  • Intensely concentrated in both time and space.
  • Sudden and highly destructive, often resulting in flash floods and landslides.
  • Difficult to forecast due to its micro-scale nature.

Vulnerable Regions in India

• Western Himalayas: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand.
• Eastern Himalayas: Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Western Ghats: Kerala, Karnataka.
• Northeastern Hills: Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram.

Notable Incidents

• Uttarakhand (July 2021): Cloudbursts in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh led to extensive flash flooding, landslides, and loss of life and infrastructure.
• Himachal Pradesh (August 2020): Cloudbursts in Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, and Kinnaur triggered severe landslides and washed away roads and bridges.
• Himachal Pradesh (August 2025):Cloudbursts in Mandi and Kullu

Consequences

• Flash Floods: Rapid and localized rise in water levels, typically occurring within 3 to 6 hours of rainfall.
• Landslides: Triggered by saturation of soil, leading to mass movement of debris, particularly in unstable hilly terrain.
• Mudflows: Dense and high-viscosity flows of water mixed with silt and sediment; capable of causing irreversible geomorphological changes.
• Human and Economic Losses: Displacement of communities, loss of lives, destruction of roads, bridges, and agricultural land.

Mitigation and Risk Reduction Strategies

• Early Warning Systems: Deployment of Doppler weather radars and satellite-based real-time monitoring to improve short-term forecasting.
• Urban Planning: Development of efficient stormwater drainage systems, flood-resistant infrastructure, and regulated land use.
• Watershed and Slope Management: Afforestation, check dams, terracing, and soil conservation techniques to reduce runoff and erosion.
• Public Awareness and Training: Community-level education and emergency preparedness drills in high-risk zones.
• Policy and Regulation: Enforcement of construction norms in ecologically sensitive zones and mandatory environmental impact assessments.
• International Collaboration: Sharing of hydrometeorological data, technology transfer, and regional cooperation in Himalayan disaster management.

On July 9, 2025, heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds and lightning caused severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions across several key areas in Delhi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red Alert for further rainfall within the next 24 hours.

Urban flooding

Definition and Nature

• Urban flooding refers to the inundation of land or property in densely populated areas due to excessive rainfall, poor drainage, or overflowing water bodies.
• Unlike rural floods, it is intensified by impervious urban surfaces such as concrete and asphalt that hinder natural percolation of rainwater.
• Consequences include waterlogging, traffic paralysis, infrastructure damage, and health hazards.

Causes of Urban Flooding in India

• Rapid Urbanisation and Impervious Surfaces
  • Drastic increase in built-up areas (e.g., 99.9% in Mumbai over 27 years).
  • This leads to 30x more runoff, burdening outdated urban drainage systems.
• Obsolete Drainage Infrastructure
  • Systems often date back several decades (e.g., Delhi’s 1976 master plan).
  • Choked drains due to poor maintenance and increasing waste volumes reduce capacity.
• Climate Change and Extreme Rainfall Events
  • Increase in intensity and frequency of short-duration, high-intensity rainstorms.
  • Example: Chennai recorded 6 mm rainfall in Nov 2015, highest in a century.
  • Central India: Tripling of extreme rain events since 1950.
• Loss of Urban Water Bodies
  • Lakes, wetlands, and ponds are encroached for real estate.
  • Example: Bengaluru has lost 79% of its lakes, reducing water absorption capacity.
• Construction in Eco-Sensitive Zones
  • Unregulated building activities alter natural drainage flows.
  • g., Unplanned development near Kedarnath contributed to 2013 flood devastation.
• Inadequate Solid Waste Management
  • India generates 1.5 lakh tonnes of MSW/day; only <30% treated.
  • Uncollected waste chokes stormwater drains and causes backflow.
• Coastal Vulnerability
  • Coastal cities like Mumbai, Chennai face dual threats: sea-level rise + subsidence.
  • By 2050, Mumbai could face 25% increase in flash floods and 5m rise in sea level.

Impacts of Urban Flooding

• Economic Losses
  • Mumbai (2005): USD 2 billion loss; Chennai (2015): USD 3 billion loss.
  • World Bank projects USD 1 trillion/year global urban flood damage by 2050.
• Public Health Hazards
  • Exposure to sewage-contaminated water spreads diseases (e.g., Leptospirosis).
  • Post-floods in Patna (2019) saw a spike in malaria and diarrhoea.
• Transport and Productivity Disruption
  • IT sector in Bengaluru (2022): Loss of ?225 crore/day due to commuting halt.
• Disproportionate Impact on Urban Poor
  • Slum dwellers in low-lying areas face highest vulnerability.
  • Example: 41–42% of Mumbai’s population lives in slums located in flood-prone zones.
• Mental Health and Trauma
  • Flood-affected populations show 30–40% prevalence of PTSD.
  • Long-term psychological impacts reduce societal productivity and resilience.
• Damage to Cultural Heritage
  • Flooding in Hampi (2019) severely affected a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Loss of cultural landmarks also affects tourism-based urban economies.

Government Initiatives

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Promotes water conservation and aquifer recharge.
• AmritSarovar Mission: Rejuvenation of water bodies for resilience.
• Atal BhujalYojana: Focuses on sustainable groundwater management.
• AMRUT 2.0: Aims for stormwater management and urban drainage reform.

Recommended Solutions for Flood Resilience

• Sponge Cities
  • Use of permeable pavements, rain gardens, and bioswales.
  • China’s pilot sponge cities retain 70–90% of annual rainfall.
• Smart Stormwater Systems
  • IoT-enabled sensors monitor real-time water flow.
  • Singapore’s SWAN project is a global benchmark.
• Urban Wetland Protection
  • Example: East Kolkata Wetlands treat 750 MLD wastewater naturally.
  • Wetlands absorb 1 million gallons/acre of rainwater.
• Green Buildings as Rain Barriers
  • Vertical forests like Bosco Verticale (Milan) reduce runoff and air pollution.
  • Skyscrapers can absorb up to 70% of rooftop rainwater.
• Flood-Resilient Architecture
  • Examples include FLOAT House (New Orleans) and amphibious housing.
  • Elevated, permeable design protects from surface water accumulation.
• Community-Led Interventions
  • Local rainwater harvesting, community-based planning (e.g., Nagdarwadi, Maharashtra).
  • Public spaces like Rotterdam’s water squares serve dual purpose: recreation + flood buffering.

ASI has granted permission to archaeologist P.S. Sriraman to prepare the final report on the third phase of Keeladi and Kodumanal excavations, addressing long-pending documentation amid earlier reporting controversies.

Keeladi Excavation:

Location and Background

• Keeladi is a small village located in Sivaganga district, about 12 km southeast of Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• Situated along the Vaigai River, it gained prominence following archaeological excavations starting in 2015.
• The site lies within the cultural context of ancient Tamil Nadu, providing crucial insights into the Sangam Age and early urban life in South India.

Major Excavations

• Excavations have been conducted in eight rounds so far:
  • First three by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
  • Subsequent ones by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA)
• Over 18,000 artefacts have been unearthed from the site.

Key Archaeological Findings

• Writing and Inscriptions
  • Over 120 potsherds with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions
  • Suggests long survival and use of script in the region.
  • Indicates literate society during Early Historic Period.
• Industrial and Economic Activities
  • Pottery Industry: Heaps of locally made pottery.
  • Weaving Industry: Evidence from spindle whorls, copper needles, terracotta seals, and yarn stones.
  • Dyeing and Bead-Making: Indicated by terracotta spheres and glass beads.
  • Luxury Crafts: Gold ornaments, copper goods, ivory bangles, shell artefacts.
  • Trade Evidence: Agate and carnelian beads suggest external trade.
• Entertainment and Lifestyle
  • Discovery of dice, terracotta gamesmen, and hopscotch markings reflect leisure activities.
  • Presence of luxury and ornamental items suggests a prosperous, artistic, and culturally rich society.

Historical Significance

• Sangam Age Link
  • Originally dated to 3rd century BCE–3rd century CE.
  • Recent ASI findings push the origin to as early as 800 BCE.
  • Provides material evidence of life, economy, and script during Sangam Period.
• Iron Age–Early Historic Transition
  • Keeladi helps bridge the gap between Iron Age (12th–6th century BCE) and the Early Historic Period (6th–4th century BCE).
  • Offers a continuous cultural evolution record in South India.
• Comparison with Indus Valley Civilization
  • Although separated by a 1000-year gap, Keeladi is seen as part of a "Vaigai Valley Civilization".
  • Like the Indus Valley Civilization, Keeladi shows:
    • Urban planning (brick structures)
    • Internal and external trade
    • Literacy and symbolic artefacts
  • However, cultural continuity is mediated through the Iron Age material.

Civilizational Features

• Urban Characteristics: Brick houses, well-planned streets.
• Social Structure: Artefacts suggest a stratified and organised society.
• Trade and Commerce: Internal and external trade routes evident.
• Cultural Continuity: Signs of advanced knowledge systems, art, and early forms of economy.

The Ministry of Culture has initiated a two-year nationwide commemoration (2025–2027) of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr.Syama Prasad Mookerjee, marked by the release of a commemorative coin and stamp, exhibitions, and cultural performances celebrating his legacy in nation-building, education, and constitutional nationalism.

Dr.Syama Prasad Mookerjee:

• He was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1951), the ideological predecessor of the present-day Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• Served as Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33—the youngest ever.
• Member of Nehru’s Interim Cabinet (1947); held the Industry and Supply portfolio.
• Resigned from the Cabinet over ideological differences, especially concerning Article 370 and Kashmir policy.

Opposition to Article 370:

• Famously opposed the special status granted to Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370.
• Coined the slogan: “Ekdeshmein do Vidhan, do Pradhan, aur do Nishannahichalenge.”
• His arrest and mysterious death in 1953 while protesting in Kashmir remain significant in political discourse.

Role in National Unity and Education:

• Championed national integration post-Partition and resisted the exclusion of parts of Bengal and Assam from the Indian Union.
• Advocated for educational reforms, industrial self-reliance, and constitutional integrity.

Commemorative Measures:

• Release of a special coin and postage stamp.
• National-level outreach and exhibitions, including dramatizations of his life by NSD and CCRT.
• Commemoration to be observed across all states and union territories.

Institutional Recognition:

• The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation and EkatmaManavDarshanPratishthan continue to preserve and promote his ideological and political contributions.

The release of the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2025 results on July 2 highlighted Himachal Pradesh's dramatic improvement, jumping from 21st rank in 2021 to the top five in 2025, sparking national attention on the state’s education reforms.

National Achievement Survey (NAS):

• Conducted by the Ministry of Education every three years.
• Assesses learning outcomes of students in Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10 across government and government-aided schools.
• Tests subjects like Language, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Science, and Social Science.
• Objective: To monitor education quality, identify learning gaps, and guide evidence-based policy

Himachal Pradesh’s Policy Measures Leading to Improved NAS Performance:

• School Rationalisation: Merged 1,000+ under-enrolled schools to optimise teacher and infrastructure deployment.
• Unified Education Directorate: Brought all levels of schooling (pre-primary to Class 12) under one administrative umbrella.
• Cluster-Based Management: Encouraged peer learning, resource-sharing, and community participation.

Limitations of NAS & Future Policy Needs:

• NAS focuses primarily on quantitative and standardised learning outcomes.
• It does not evaluate socio-emotional development, creativity, or critical thinking.

On 9 July 2025, the Indian Prime Minister addressed the National Assembly of Namibia, reaffirming India's commitment to democratic values, development partnership, and South-South cooperation, while announcing new bilateral initiatives.

India–Namibia Bilateral Relations:

• India supported Namibia's liberation movement and hosted the first diplomatic office of SWAPO in New Delhi.
• India contributed to UN peacekeeping operations during Namibia’s transition to independence.
• Over 1,700 Namibian nationals have benefited from Indian scholarships and capacity-building initiatives.

Digital and Financial Cooperation:

• Namibia became one of the first African countries to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform, enhancing digital financial inclusion.

Health Diplomacy:

• India offered Bhabhatron radiotherapy machines for cancer care.
• Namibia was invited to join India’s Jan Aushadhi programme, which reduces medicine costs by 50–80%.

Education and Skill Development:

• India supported the establishment of:
  • A Centre of Excellence in IT
  • India Wing at the University of Namibia
  • An Entrepreneurship Development Centre to promote start-ups.

Conservation and Environment Diplomacy:

• Namibia played a key role in the reintroduction of cheetahs to India in 2022.
• Both countries collaborate through the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA).

India–Africa and Global South Engagement:

• India’s development cooperation in Africa is valued at over USD 12 billion, covering infrastructure, health, education, and innovation.
• India advocates for Africa’s equitable representation in global governance, demonstrated by support for the African Union’s permanent G20 membership.
• India aligns with Africa’s Agenda 2063, focusing on industrialisation, value creation, and mutual development.

The Quad foreign ministers (India, US, Australia, and Japan) launched the Critical Minerals Initiative to collectively secure and diversify global supply chains, positioning India’s participation in “mineral clubs” as a key element of its minerals diplomacy amid rising geopolitical and economic challenges.

Critical Minerals

• Critical minerals are those that are economically important, strategically essential, and have a high risk of supply disruption.
• They are crucial for advanced technologies, clean energy transitions, national defense, electronics, aerospace, and semiconductors.
• Examples: Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite, Rare Earth Elements (REEs), Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Platinum Group Metals, etc.

Why Are They "Critical"?

• Economic and Strategic Dependence: Key for manufacturing electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, missiles, and drones.
• Geographic Concentration of Supply:
  • China dominates rare earth processing (>85%).
  • Congo controls 70% of cobalt production.
  • Australia, Chile, and Argentina lead lithium production.
• Supply Chain Vulnerabilities:
  • Geo-political tensions, export restrictions, or internal instability in mineral-rich nations can disrupt supply.

Significance of Critical Minerals for India:

• Critical minerals (like lithium, cobalt, rare earths, nickel, graphite) are vital for India’s clean energy transition, supporting sectors such as electric mobility, solar energy, battery storage, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.
• India is heavily dependent on China for rare earths and lacks advanced domestic extraction and processing technologies.

India’s Multilateral Strategy in Mineral Diplomacy:

• India is part of groupings like the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and now the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to strengthen access to reliable and diversified supply chains.
• Such “mineral clubs” facilitate joint R&D, co-financing, technology sharing, and resource security through friendly stockpiling and de-risking mechanisms.

Strategic Challenges and Safeguards:

• India must avoid being reduced to a low-end processing hub or transit country while high-value components remain with developed nations.
• India should negotiate for technology transfer, IPR access, ESG standard shaping, and inclusive developmental benefits for the Global South.
• Need for policy alignment with domestic goals like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, alongside global ESG compliance.

The Indian Food and Beverage Association (IFBA) has challenged negative claims about palm oil, calling labels like “palm oil free” misleading, thereby reigniting a science-based debate on its health impacts as per ICMR dietary guidelines.

Palm Oil and Health

1. Nutritional Composition of Palm Oil

• Palm oil contains approximately 40g of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and 40g of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) per 100g.
• It is semi-solid at room temperature and does not require hydrogenation, hence contains negligible trans fatty acids (TFA).
• Compared to coconut oil and ghee (which have ~90g and ~70g of SFA respectively), palm oil has relatively lower SFA content.

2. ICMR Guidelines on Edible Oils

• The ICMR dietary guidelines recommend limiting oil intake to 20–50 grams/day/person, depending on physical activity levels.
• Oils high in poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and low in SFA are preferred. Recommended alternatives include mustard, sunflower, safflower oils.
• Reheating oils, especially PUFA-rich oils, is discouraged due to oxidation and formation of harmful compounds.

3. Health Implications of Different Fats

• SFA-rich oils can increase LDL cholesterol, promoting inflammation and risk of cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes.
• Hydrogenated oils (containing trans fats) are associated with cancer risks, neurological disorders, and pregnancy complications.
• Palm oil offers the benefit of tocotrienols, a form of Vitamin E that may help reduce cholesterol, but its SFA content necessitates moderation.

Amid rising climate-induced disasters and economic losses, Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds) are gaining attention as innovative financial instruments, prompting discussions on India's potential role in sponsoring them for disaster risk transfer and post-disaster recovery financing.

What are Catastrophe Bonds (Cat Bonds)?

• Cat Bonds are insurance-linked securities (ILS) that allow countries or insurers to transfer catastrophic risk to capital markets.
• They function as high-yield debt instruments, where the investor may lose principal if a predefined disaster (like an earthquake or cyclone) occurs.
• Typically issued by a sovereign government through intermediaries (e.g., World Bank, ADB, reinsurance firms).
• The premium (coupon) paid is higher due to the high-risk nature of these bonds.

Global Adoption and Relevance:

• Initiated in the late 1990s, post-Hurricane Andrew in the U.S., when reinsurance capacity became insufficient.
• Over $180 billion in issuances globally; ~$50 billion currently outstanding.
• Popular with pension funds and hedge funds for portfolio diversification, as natural hazard risks are non-correlated with financial markets.

Need and Scope for India:

• India faces high disaster vulnerability: cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires.
• Rising climate-linked disaster frequency and severity raises risks to public finance and recovery efforts.
• India's credit rating and $1.8 billion/annum allocation for disaster risk reduction since FY21-22 strengthens the case for sponsoring cat bonds.
• India can lead a South Asian Cat Bond for regional risk pooling (e.g., earthquakes in Nepal/Bhutan/India, cyclones in Bay of Bengal).

Disadvantages and Precautions:

• Trigger design flaws (e.g., magnitude 6.6 threshold when a 6.5 earthquake causes damage) may prevent payouts.
• Non-occurrence of disaster may raise questions over cost-effectiveness.
• Transparent cost-benefit assessments comparing premiums paid vs historic post-disaster recovery costs are essential.

Amid the controversy surrounding the Special Summary Revision (SIR) process in Bihar, former CEC S.Y. Quraishi reflects on the Election Commission’s (ECI) unparalleled logistical achievements in conducting elections, particularly in ensuring last-mile voter inclusion across India’s vast and challenging terrain.

Electoral Inclusion as Constitutional Commitment

• Remote Voter Access as a Non-Negotiable:The ECI has consistently ensured voting access even in the most inaccessible regions — from a single priest in Gujarat's Gir forest to a lone voter in Arunachal's dense forests, exemplifying the constitutional principle that “no voter is left behind.”
• Geographical Extremes, Equal Commitment:Polling booths are set up at both Indira Point in the Nicobar Islands and Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh (world’s highest polling station at 15,256 ft), demonstrating the EC’s resolve to deliver electoral participation irrespective of terrain, climate, or population size.
• Symbol of Democratic Supply Chain Efficiency:These extraordinary efforts in inclusion underline how Indian elections invert typical supply chain logic — focusing not on profitability but maximum reach and democratic legitimacy, with the “last mile” being the purpose, not the challenge.

Operational Complexity and Technological Backbone

• Scale and Infrastructure of Electoral Operations:In 2024, over 978 million voters were served across 1.2 million polling booths using 5.5 million EVMs, aided by 15 million personnel, 400,000 vehicles, 1,700 air sorties, and even mules and helicopters, showing unmatched logistical scale.
• Real-Time Tech & Fail-Safe Systems:GPS-monitored strongrooms, encrypted VPNs, turnout dashboards, cVIGIL app, and mobile-based complaint redressal (often under 100 minutes) make Indian elections digitally resilient and highly responsive to contingencies.
• Training and Human Resource Precision:Each booth is staffed with trained officials (typically 10), prepared for machine handling, legal compliance, and crowd control — a robust seasonal human capital pipeline ensuring professionalism at every level of the polling process.

Global Comparison and Democratic Value Proposition

• India vs Advanced Democracies – Logistical Discipline:Unlike Nigeria (2019), the UK, and even the U.S., where elections have faced breakdowns due to ballot shortages or late arrivals, India’s far-flung booths are always functional on time, highlighting its unique electoral preparedness.
• Closed-Loop Electoral Management System:From EVM manufacture in Bengaluru to final storage in triple-locked strongrooms, India's election system mirrors advanced logistics models like reverse supply chains, with rigorous checks, inventory tagging, and VVPAT audits.
• Democracy as a Logistical and Ethical Success:India’s electoral system proves that democracy is not just an abstract ideal — it is a meticulously planned, physically executed reality that combines ethics, inclusion, and administrative excellence on an unprecedented scale.

Practice Question

The custodial death of 27-year-old Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, marked by 44 wounds and evidence of torture, has reignited the debate on police brutality and the urgent need for structural reforms in India's law enforcement system.

Systemic Abuse and Institutional Failures

• Pattern of Custodial Violence: Multiple custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu between 2021–2025 — including Vignesh (2022), Raja (2024), and Ajith (2025) — highlight a disturbing systemic trend of torture and impunity within the police system.
• State Failure in Police Welfare: Despite significant annual budget allocations, minimal investment is made in psychological support, mental health, or welfare training of personnel. The focus remains on hardware procurement, neglecting the human resource dimension.
• Normalisation of Force Over Fairness: Custodial violence is increasingly seen as routine rather than exceptional, revealing an entrenched culture where coercive practices override constitutional safeguards and due process.

Reform Imperatives for Human-Centric Policing

• Mental Health and Counselling Integration: Reallocating even 5% of the policing budget towards district-level mental health units, trauma counselling, and sensitisation programmes can reduce stress-induced brutality and improve public trust.
• Curricular Overhaul in Police Training; Outdated training models need to be replaced with modern modules focusing on ethics, trauma-informed investigation, human rights law, and community policing practices aligned with contemporary needs.
• Enforceable Accountability Mechanisms: The absence of a dedicated anti-custodial violence law hampers accountability. Time-bound investigations, independent oversight, and civil society participation must be institutionalised through legislative clarity.

Leveraging Technology and Legislative Will

• Technology as a Safeguard, Not Surveillance Alone: CCTV systems in custody areas must be tamper-proof and subject to real-time audits. Digital tools should enhance transparency, not serve as post-facto evidence without intervention.
• Redefining the Uniform's Symbolism: The police uniform must be reimagined as a representation of service, compassion, and lawful authority — rather than unchecked coercive power.
• Policy Over Punishment: Reactionary suspensions post-death are inadequate. Preventive structural changes, rooted in legal and psychological reform, are necessary to honour the constitutional contract with citizens.

Practice Question:

The 17th BRICS Summit in Rio marked the first meeting with newly inducted members and took place amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing global debate over BRICS' push for de-dollarisation and strategic autonomy.

Geopolitical Context and Strategic Challenges

• First Summit with Expanded Membership:This was the first BRICS summit including new entrants such as Egypt, UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, signaling a shift towards enhanced representation of the Global South. Saudi Arabia, although invited, has yet to formally join.
• Tensions with the U.S. and G7 Bloc:The summit followed key developments including the G-7 summit in Canada, US-Israel strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, and BRICS facing backlash from U.S. leadership accusing the bloc of pursuing an “anti-dollar” and “anti-American” economic agenda.
• Intra-BRICS Differences on Global Governance:Internal differences persist — especially over UN Security Council reforms — as April’s BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meet ended without consensus, notably due to resistance from African nations on expansion modalities.

Strategic Outcomes and Diplomatic Balancing

• Strong Language on Geopolitical Conflicts:The Rio Declaration condemned the attacks on Gaza and Iran, emphasizing nuclear safety and humanitarian concerns. India inserted references to cross-border terrorism and the Pahalgam attack in the joint statement.
• Diplomatic Gains for India and Brazil:India and Brazil secured collective BRICS support for expanded roles at the UN, including Security Council reform, enhancing their diplomatic positioning on multilateral platforms.
• Space for Middle-Power Voices:The absence of leaders from Russia and China provided diplomatic bandwidth for non-P5 BRICS members (India, Brazil, South Africa) to push resolutions on climate change, WTO reform, and energy security.

Future Trajectory and India's Leadership Opportunity

• India’s Upcoming BRICS Presidency:India is set to chair BRICS in 2026, with an opportunity to consolidate gains from the Rio Summit, especially on counter-terrorism, energy resilience, and digital cooperation.
• Emerging Economic Clout of BRICS:BRICS now accounts for nearly 40% of global GDP, 25% of world trade, and half of the global population, giving it unprecedented weight in international economic negotiations.
• Strategic Vision and Acronym Recast:India redefined BRICS as “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability”, aligning it with developmental and climate-resilient goals amidst growing calls for a multipolar world.

Practice Question:

"In light of the recent expansion of BRICS membership and the outcomes of the 17th BRICS Summit, critically examine the grouping’s potential to offer a credible alternative to the Western-led global order. What are the internal and external challenges it faces in fulfilling this role?"   (250 words)